diff --git a/src/drive/mod.rs b/src/drive/mod.rs
index e0c7f04..576b34f 100644
--- a/src/drive/mod.rs
+++ b/src/drive/mod.rs
@@ -411,8 +411,16 @@ impl Drive {
     pub fn init(&mut self) -> Result<()> {
         let t0 = std::time::Instant::now();
         tracing::info!(target: "freemkv::drive", phase = "init", "begin");
+        // Drive-level features (max read speed / riplock lift) — matched on the
+        // DRIVE, applied for ANY disc. STOCK MMC commands only (no firmware
+        // unlock), so this is safe for a CSS DVD that must stay in stock mode.
+        // Runs BEFORE the DVD early-return below so a DVD is no longer riplocked:
+        // previously only the BD/UHD path (which returns clear content via the
+        // firmware unlock + its speed calibration) got up to speed, and DVD fell
+        // through with just the legacy SET CD SPEED the drive ignores.
+        crate::unlock_bridge::apply_drive_features(self.scsi.as_mut(), &self.drive_id);
         if self.disc_is_dvd() {
-            tracing::info!(target: "freemkv::drive", phase = "init", dvd = true, elapsed_ms = t0.elapsed().as_millis() as u64, "end (stock-mode DVD, no unlock)");
+            tracing::info!(target: "freemkv::drive", phase = "init", dvd = true, elapsed_ms = t0.elapsed().as_millis() as u64, "end (stock-mode DVD, drive features applied, no bus unlock)");
             self.init_ran = true;
             return Ok(());
         }
diff --git a/src/unlock_bridge.rs b/src/unlock_bridge.rs
index 87fa4d6..a6ef726 100644
--- a/src/unlock_bridge.rs
+++ b/src/unlock_bridge.rs
@@ -124,6 +124,26 @@ pub(crate) fn run_unlockers(
     Err(fu::UnlockError::NotApplicable)
 }
 
+/// Apply drive-level feature tuning (max read speed / riplock lift) for the
+/// installed drive, for ANY disc. This is the drive-features capability, kept
+/// separate from bus removal: it issues only STOCK MMC commands (no firmware
+/// unlock), so it is safe on a CSS DVD that must stay in stock mode. Each
+/// unlocker's `apply_drive_features` is self-gating (a no-op unless it recognises
+/// the drive), so we call every one; disc kind is irrelevant here, so we pass
+/// `Unknown`. Best-effort — never returns an error to the caller (a slow drive
+/// still rips).
+pub(crate) fn apply_drive_features(
+    scsi: &mut dyn crate::scsi::ScsiTransport,
+    drive_id: &crate::identity::DriveId,
+) {
+    let id = to_fu_drive_id(drive_id);
+    let ctx = fu::UnlockCtx::new(&id, fu::DiscKind::Unknown, &[]);
+    let mut adapter = ScsiAdapter(scsi);
+    for u in fu::all_unlockers() {
+        let _ = u.apply_drive_features(&mut adapter, &ctx);
+    }
+}
+
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use super::*;